Aylett, CPL James Edwin

James Edwin Aylett (1889-1980), grocer, salesman and soldier was born in Richmond, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, son of James & Caroline Aylett. He had at least one brother and sister. He spent the 1890s and 1900s growing up in Bunbury and attended Bunbury State School where he received many prizes.

Born to James & Caroline Aylett in 1889. He grew up in Leederville but was living in York at his time of enlistment. His schooling was at Bunbury State School. In 1897, he came 6th place in his class. He had some brothers and sisters.

In 1901, his father was charged with assaulting a 13-year-old-boy that had been assaulting the young James (at that time, 11 years of age). His father, who was a furniture dealer declared bankruptcy in 1904 but seemed to continue his business for some years after.

During the late 1900s/early 1910s, Aylett served in B Company, Western Australian Infantry Regiment, part of the Australian Army Reserves. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War his family moved to Leederville and he was working in York.

Aylett enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 14th of January 1916 and was posted to A Company, 44th Australian Infantry Battalion. He embarked for overseas service in June 1916 and arrived at the front lines in November 1916. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1916 and to Corporal in March 1917.

He fought in the Battle of Messines and was then sent to the 10th & 11th Training Battalions in England as a military instructor from September 1917 to March 1918. During this time, he completed a Lewis Machine Gun Course and a Rifle Course resulting in him being qualified as a 1st class shot.

He was wounded in battle during the Battle of Hamel on the 4th of July 1918, receiving a severe gunshot wound to his left forearm. Aylett was forced to spend five months in a military hospital before being medically discharged to Australia and then continued to remain in hospital in Fremantle.

During the war, his brother Frank had been Killed In Action. James Aylett fought in six battles and spent 186 days at the front lines.

In 1921, he married Grace Aylett. Together, they lived in Mount Lawley for the next 4 decades, with Aylett working as a salesman. They retired to Wembley Downs in the 1960s and 1970s and in his final years he moved to Lynwood. James Aylett lived to the old age of 91 when in 1980 he died in Lynwood of natural causes.

Notes

98 First Avenue, Mount Lawley, salesman – 1925-1963

3 Stockdale Crescent, Wembley Downs, Retired – 1968-1977

91 Solomon Nrsghybanthus Road, Lynwood, Retired – 1980

Aylett was an Australian soldier who was an expert in close combat,
He was physically and mentally tough, compassionate and courageous,
He led by example, he strove to take the initiative,
He was committed to learning and working for the team,
He believed in trust, loyalty and respect for his country, his mates and the Army,
The rising sun was his badge of honour,
He is an Australian soldier, Always!

Record completed by Luca Muir Anderson

SOURCES

Southern Times (28/12/1897, P.3)

Bunbury Herald (26/11/1901, P.2)

Kalgoorlie Miner (5/12/1904, P.4)

AnzacHeroes.com

AIF Project ADFA

Virtual War Memorial

The Westralian Battalion (Neville Browning, OAM)

National Archives of Australia

Find A Grave.com

Electoral Rolls of Australia